U.S. patent application number 12/965597 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-16 for mobile integrated distribution and transaction system and method for nfc services, and a mobile electronic device thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to TORO DEVELOPMENT LIMITED. Invention is credited to Gregory Puente-Castan, Laurent Renard.
Application Number | 20110143663 12/965597 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44143470 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110143663 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Renard; Laurent ; et
al. |
June 16, 2011 |
MOBILE INTEGRATED DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSACTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
FOR NFC SERVICES, AND A MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE THEREOF
Abstract
A mobile distribution system includes a widget generator for
creating a widget having a certificate and a communication
interface for distributing the widget to a mobile electronic device
with a transaction terminal having at least one secure element for
storing a plurality of secure applications; and retrieving the
widget information from the mobile electronic device on NFC
transactions in use of the transaction terminal.
Inventors: |
Renard; Laurent; (Hong Kong,
HK) ; Puente-Castan; Gregory; (Hong Kong,
HK) |
Assignee: |
TORO DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
Hong Kong
HK
|
Family ID: |
44143470 |
Appl. No.: |
12/965597 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/41.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 63/0823 20130101;
G06Q 30/06 20130101; G06Q 40/02 20130101; G06Q 20/3227 20130101;
G06Q 20/38215 20130101; G06Q 20/327 20130101; H04B 5/0031 20130101;
H04W 12/069 20210101; G06Q 20/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/41.1 |
International
Class: |
H04B 5/00 20060101
H04B005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 11, 2009 |
TW |
098142439 |
Claims
1. A mobile distribution system, comprising: a widget generator for
creating a widget having a certificate; and a communication
interface for distributing the widget to a mobile electronic device
with a transaction terminal having at least one secure element for
storing a plurality of secure applications; and retrieving the
widget information from the mobile electronic device on NFC
transactions in use of the transaction terminal.
2. The mobile distribution system of claim 1, wherein the widget
displays multimedia content associated with one of the secure
applications.
3. The mobile distribution system of claim 1, wherein the secure
element is divided into a plurality of secure domains, and each
secure application is stored in the secure domain.
4. The mobile distribution system of claim 1, wherein the widget is
authenticated by a virtual machine installed on the mobile
electronic device, and then accesses the corresponding one of the
secure applications stored in the secure element to retrieve
information on NFC transactions.
5. The mobile distribution system of claim 1, wherein the widget is
assigned a lifecycle, and the communication interface retrieves the
widget information on NFC transactions during the valid
lifecycle.
6. The mobile distribution system of claim 1, wherein the widget is
assigned an identification number representing an account for
conducting NFC transactions under a secure application.
7. The mobile distribution system of claim 1, wherein the widget
has a plurality of states, the initial state of the widget is
changed when the widget is distributed on the mobile electronic
device from the mobile distribution system in order to activate the
widget during NFC transactions.
8. A mobile distribution method, comprising the following steps:
generating a widget having a certificate; distributing the widget
to a mobile electronic device with a transaction terminal having a
secure element for storing at least one secure application; and
retrieving the widget information from the mobile electronic device
on NFC transactions enabled by the secure element in use of the
transaction terminal.
9. The mobile distribution method of claim 8, comprising the
following steps: assigning a lifecycle to the widget in the step of
creating a widget; and retrieving the widget information on NFC
transactions during the valid lifecycle.
10. The mobile distribution method of claim 8, comprising the
following step: assigning an identification number to the widget in
the step of generating a widget, the identification number
representing an account for conducting NFC transactions under a
secure application.
11. The mobile distribution method of claim 8, wherein the widget
has a plurality of states, changing the initial state of the widget
when the widget is distributed on the mobile electronic device from
the mobile distribution system in order to activate the widget
during NFC transactions.
12. A computer-readable media storing computer-executable
instructions to use a widget on NFC transactions, the
computer-executable instructions performing a method comprising the
following steps: receiving widgets, each widget having a
certificate; displaying the widgets on a graphical user interface;
selecting one of the widgets on the graphical user interface; and
changing the widget information while an NFC modem is enabling the
NFC transactions with a secure element.
13. A mobile transaction method to use a widget on NFC
transactions, comprising: receiving widgets, where each widget has
a certificate; displaying the widgets on a graphical user
interface; selecting one of the widgets on the graphical user
interface; and changing the widget information while an NFC modem
is enabling the NFC transactions with a secure element.
14. The mobile transaction method of claim 13, wherein the widget
displays multimedia content associated with a secure
application.
15. The mobile transaction method of claim 13, wherein the widget
receives the data from the NFC modem or a secure domain associated
with NFC transactions under a secure application corresponding to
the widget.
16. The mobile transaction method of claim 13, wherein the
certificate allows the widget to access the secure element to
enable the NFC transactions.
17. The mobile transaction method of claim 13, further comprising
the following steps: receiving the widget assigned a lifecycle, and
changing the widget information during the valid lifecycle while
the NFC modem is enabling the NFC transactions.
18. The mobile transaction method of claim 13, further comprising
the following step: receiving the widget assigned an identification
number representing an account for conducting NFC transactions
under a secure application.
19. A mobile transaction system to use a widget on wireless
transactions, comprising: means for receiving widgets, each widget
having a certificate displays multimedia content associated with a
secure application; a graphical user interface for displaying the
widgets; means for selecting one of the widgets on the graphical
user interface; and means for transmitting the widget information
while enabling the wireless transactions with a secure element.
20. The mobile transaction system of claim 19, wherein the means
for transmitting the widget information is an NFC modem, the
wireless transactions are NFC transactions.
21. The mobile transaction system of claim 19, further comprising a
virtual machine for authenticating and managing a plurality of
widgets, and changing the widget information while the NFC
transactions are enabled with the secure element.
22. The mobile transaction system of claim 19, wherein the secure
application is stored in the secure element.
23. The mobile transaction system of claim 19, wherein the widget
is assigned a lifecycle, and the means for transmitting the widget
information transmits the widget information during the valid
lifecycle while an NFC modem is enabling the wireless
transactions.
24. The mobile transaction system of claim 19, the certificate
allows the widget to access the secure element to enable the NFC
transactions under the control of a secure application stored in
the secure element.
25. The mobile transaction system of claim 19, wherein the widget
is assigned an identification number representing an account for
conducting wireless transactions under the secure application.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This non-provisional application claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 098142439 filed in
Taiwan, R.O.C. on Dec. 11, 2009 the entire contents of which are
hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an integrated distribution
and transaction system and method, and more particularly, to a
mobile integrated distribution and transaction system and method
for NFC (Near-Field Communication) services, and a mobile
electronic device thereof.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Near Field Communication (NFC) is a new, short-range
wireless connectivity technology that evolved from a combination of
existing contactless identification and interconnection
technologies. Products with built-in NFC will dramatically simplify
the way consumer devices interact with one another, helping people
speed connections, receive and share information and even make fast
and secure payments.
[0006] Operating at 13.56 MHz and transferring data at up to 424
Kbits/second, NFC provides intuitive, simple, and safe
communication between electronic devices. NFC is both a "read" and
"write" technology. Communication between two NFC-compatible
devices occurs when they are brought within four centimeters of one
another: a simple wave or touch can establish an NFC connection,
which is then compatible with other known wireless technologies
such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The underlying layers of NFC technology
follow universally implemented ISO, ECMA, and ETSI standards.
Because the transmission range is so short, NFC-enabled
transactions are inherently secure. Also, physical proximity of the
device to the reader gives users the reassurance of being in
control of the process.
[0007] NFC can be used with a variety of devices, from mobile
phones that enable payment or transfer information to digital
cameras that send their photos to a TV set with just a touch. The
possibilities are endless, and NFC is sure to take the complexities
out of today's increasingly sophisticated consumer devices and make
them simpler to use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] One object of the present invention is to provide a mobile
integrated distribution and transaction system and method
particularly for use on information processing of NFC services.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
mobile distribution system and method to distribute the widgets
used for NFC transactions.
[0010] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
mobile transaction system and method to use the widgets in NFC
transactions.
[0011] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a mobile electronic device to use the widgets in NFC
transactions.
[0012] In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the present
invention provides a mobile integrated distribution and transaction
system comprising: a server having a widget generator for creating
a widget having a certificate; a communication interface for
distributing the widget and retrieving the widget information
associated with NFC transactions; and at least one mobile
electronic device having a transaction terminal comprising an NFC
modem and at least one secure element divided into a plurality of
secure domains, and a virtual machine for managing the widget and
changing the widget information while the NFC modem is enabling the
NFC transactions with the secure element.
[0013] In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the present
invention provides a mobile distribution system comprising: a
widget generator for creating a widget having a certificate; and a
communication interface for distributing the widget to a mobile
electronic device with a transaction terminal having at least one
secure element for storing a plurality of secure applications, and
retrieving the widget information from the mobile electronic device
using the transaction terminal for NFC transactions.
[0014] In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the present
invention provides a mobile distribution method, comprising the
following steps: generating a widget having a certificate;
distributing the widget to a mobile electronic device with a
transaction terminal having at least one secure element for storing
at least one secure application; and retrieving the widget
information from the mobile electronic device on NFC transactions
enabled by one of the secure element in use of the transaction
terminal.
[0015] In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the present
invention provides a mobile transaction system to use a widget on
wireless transactions, comprising: means for receiving widgets,
each widget having a certificate displays multimedia content
associated with a secure application; a graphical user interface
for displaying the widgets; means for selecting one of the widgets
on the graphical user interface; and means for transmitting the
widget information while enabling the wireless transactions with a
secure element.
[0016] In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the present
invention provides a mobile transaction method to use a widget on
NFC transactions, comprising: receiving widgets, where each widget
has a certificate; displaying the widgets on a graphical user
interface; selecting one of the widgets on the graphical user
interface; and changing the widget information while an NFC modem
is enabling the NFC transactions with a secure element.
[0017] The aforementioned method is implemented by a software
installed on a mobile electronic device comprising the NFC modem
and the graphical user interface.
[0018] The aforementioned method is executed by computer-executable
instructions stored in a computer-readable media.
[0019] In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the present
invention provides a mobile electronic device for NFC services,
comprising: a transaction terminal having an NFC modem for
transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals associated with a
contactless data of NFC transactions, and at least one secure
element for storing at least one secure application; and a virtual
machine for authenticating and managing a plurality of widgets,
each widget having a certificate, and changing the widget
information while the NFC modem is enabling the NFC transactions
with the secure element.
[0020] The aforementioned mobile electronic device is a PDA or an
iPod or a cell phone or a hand-held device or a multimedia
player.
[0021] In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the present
invention provides a mobile electronic device for NFC services,
composed of: a wireless modem for receiving a widget with a
certificate from a wireless network; at least one secure element
for storing at least one secure application; an NFC modem for
transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals associated with a
contactless data of NFC transactions; a graphical user interface
for displaying the widget; a memory for storing the widget; and a
processor performing a virtual machine for managing the widget(s)
and changing the widget(s') information while the NFC modem is
enabling the NFC transactions with the secure element.
[0022] In the mobile integrated distribution and transaction system
and method, the mobile distribution system and method, the mobile
transaction system and method, and the mobile electronic device
thereof according to the present invention, associated information
of various transaction applications can be displayed on a mobile
electronic device through widgets having a certificate, NFC
transactions can be enabled by a secure element for storing a
secure application, and information associated with a secure
application can be received or processed by the widgets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a system architecture diagram of a mobile
integrated distribution and transaction system for NFC service in
accordance with the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a transaction terminal in
accordance with the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 3A shows a schematic block diagram illustrating the
software and the hardware of the mobile electronic device.
[0026] FIG. 3B shows a schematic block diagram illustrating the
mobile electronic device of the FIG. 3A communicating with the bank
server for receiving widgets and enabling a transaction
communication.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a plurality of
applied widgets displayed on the graphical user interface of the
mobile electronic device in accordance with the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating the
various states of a widget in accordance with the present
invention.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a mobile distribution method
in accordance with the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a mobile transaction method
in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] FIG. 1 shows a system architecture diagram of a mobile
integrated distribution and transaction system for NFC service in
accordance with the present invention. The mobile integrated
distribution and transaction system for NFC service of the present
invention comprises a server 10 comprising a communication
interface 11 communicated with a wireless network 30 and executes a
widget lifecycle management platform 12. The widget lifecycle
management platform 12 comprises a widget generator for creating a
widget. The widget may display multimedia content associated with a
secure application. In an embodiment of the present invention, the
widget generator is a software development kit (SDK) of the widget
lifecycle management platform 12, and the widget is an independent
application that is developed using SDK and that can only be run on
a virtual machine 21 of a mobile electronic device 20.
[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, the widget is
assigned a certificate which allows the widget to enable a NFC
transaction with a secure element for storing a plurality of secure
applications. In an embodiment, the widget is assigned a lifecycle,
and the widget lifecycle management platform 12 retrieves the
widget information used on the NFC transaction through the
communication interface 11 during the valid lifecycle. In an
embodiment of the present invention, the widget is assigned an
identification number representing an account for conducting the
NFC transactions under a secure application. In each embodiment of
the present invention, the secure application is, but not limited
to, a transport application or a credit/debit application or a
coupon application or a secure access application or a loyalty card
application or an electronic purse application or a ticketing
application.
[0033] The widget lifecycle management platform 12 of the mobile
integrated and transaction system of the present invention uses the
communication interface 11 to distribute a plurality of widgets to
at least one mobile electronic device 20 through the wireless
network 30. In an embodiment of the present invention, the widget
lifecycle management platform 12 also uses the communication
interface 11 to retrieve the widget information used on the NFC
transaction from the mobile electronic device 20 so as to analyze
the information associated with NFC transactions received by the
widget. Still referring to FIG. 1, the mobile integrated
distribution and transaction system of the present invention
comprises at least one mobile electronic device 20 comprising a
virtual machine 21 and a transaction terminal 22. The virtual
machine 21 is an implementation of software and provides a widget
management platform for managing the widget received by the mobile
electronic device 20 from the server 10. In an embodiment of the
present invention, the transaction terminal 22 allows the mobile
electronic device 20 to enable a peer-to-peer transaction with
other NFC devices 31, so that the mobile electronic device 20
changes the widget information or that the widget receives the
information associated with transactions. In another embodiment of
the present invention, the transaction terminal 22 allows the
mobile electronic device 20 to enable a card emulation mode
transaction with a point-of-sales (POS) terminal 32, so that the
mobile electronic device 20 changes the widget information or that
the widget receives the information associated with transactions.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the transaction
terminal 22 allows the mobile electronic device 20 to enable a
reader mode transaction with a radio-frequency identification
(RFID) tag 33, so that the mobile electronic device 20 changes the
widget information or that the widget receives the information
associated with transactions. In other words, an NFC transaction
enabled by the mobile electronic device 20 includes, but is not
limited to, a peer-to-peer transaction, a card emulation mode
transaction, and a reader mode transaction.
[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, a mobile
electronic device 20 for NFC services comprises a transaction
terminal 22 as shown in FIG. 2 and a virtual machine 21. The
transaction terminal 22 comprises: an NFC modem for transmitting
radio frequency (RF) signals associated with contactless data of
NFC transactions or for transmitting data associated with NFC
transactions; and at least one secure element divided into at least
one secure domain where a specific secure application is located or
stored. In an embodiment of the present invention, the secure
element is implemented by a SIM card for a cell phone or a secure
memory card, such as a micro-SD card. The virtual machine 21 is
installed on the mobile electronic device 20 for authenticating and
managing a plurality of widgets, and each widget has a certificate.
After the certificate is authenticated by the virtual machine 21,
the virtual machine 21 allows the widget to access the secure
element 225. The widget changes the widget information or retrieves
information under a corresponding secure application stored in one
of secure domains while the NFC modem is enabling the NFC
transactions with the secure element 225.
[0035] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a transaction terminal in
accordance with the present invention. The transaction terminal 22
is implemented on a mobile electronic device 20. In an embodiment
of the present invention, the mobile electronic device 20 is a PDA
or an iPod or a cell phone or a hand-held device or a multimedia
player. In another embodiment of the present invention, the mobile
electronic device 20 comprises the transaction terminal 22 only,
exclusively used for conducting NFC transactions under the control
of a secure application located or stored in a secure domain.
[0036] In an embodiment of the present invention, a mobile
electronic device 20 comprises a transaction terminal 22. The
transaction terminal 22 is used for NFC transactions, composed of a
wireless modem 226, at least one secure element 225, an NFC modem
224, a memory 223, a graphical user interface 222, and a processor
221. The wireless modem 226 uses a wireless protocol which is 3G,
GPRS, Bluetooth, or WiFi or any other wireless communication
protocol such that the mobile electronic device 20 communicated
with a wireless network 30, and the widget is distributed to the
mobile electronic device 20 through the wireless modem 226 of the
transaction terminal 22. The secure element 225 is a hardware
embedded into the mobile electronic device 20 and is divided in a
plurality of secure domains where secure applications are located
or stored. In an embodiment of the present invention, the mobile
electronic device 20 is a cell phone, and the secure element 225 is
the SIM card for a cell phone or a secure memory card which can be
plugged into the memory card slot of the mobile electronic device
20. For example, such secure memory card is a micro-SD card. In
another embodiment of the present invention, the mobile electronic
device 20 may comprises a plurality of secure elements 225. For
example, both a SIM card and a memory card are embedded into a NFC
mobile phone. The SIM card and the memory card are divided into a
plurality of secure domains for storing a plurality of secure
applications, respectively.
[0037] The NFC modem 224 comprises a built-in NFC antenna (not
shown) for NFC transactions and is electronically connected to the
secure element 225. The processor 221 of the transaction terminal
22 executes software program instructions of a widget management
platform, and is electrically connected to the wireless modem 226
to receive the widgets distributed by the server 10 or to transmit
information associated with NFC transactions received by the widget
back to the server 10. The widget is assigned an identification
number representing an account for conducting NFC transactions
under the control of a secure application stored in the secure
element, and the information transmitted back to the server 10 from
the widget includes the identification number.
[0038] In addition, the processor 221 electronically connects to
the secure element 225 and the NFC modem 224 to access the secure
element 225 for enabling the NFC transactions. The processor 221
also electronically connects to the memory 223 for storing the
received widget and connects to the graphical user interface 222
for displaying multimedia content associated with a secure
application represented by the widget.
[0039] In an embodiment of the present invention, the widget
assigned a certificate is corresponding to a specific secure
application stored in a secure domain. The certificate will be
authenticated by the widget management platform provided by the
virtual machine 21. If the certificate passes the authentication,
the virtual machine 21 will allow the widget to access the secure
element 225 to enable the NFC modem 224 to conduct the NFC
transactions under a secure application, so that the widget
information is changed or that the transaction information
associated with a secure application is received by the widget. A
secure application is located or stored in a secure domain. For
example, a loyalty card application is located in a secure domain
which enables a loyalty card transactions with the secure element
225. For another example, an electronic purse application is
located in a secure domain which enables an electronic purse
transaction with the secure element 225. For another example, a
coupon application is located in a secure domain which enables a
coupon transaction with the secure element 225.
[0040] In an embodiment of the present invention, the widget is
assigned a certificate and a lifecycle. During the valid lifecycle,
if the certificate passes the authentication of the virtual machine
21, it will allow the widget to access the secure element 225 to
enable the NFC modem 224 to conduct the NFC transactions. The
widget also transmits information associated with the NFC
transaction back to the server 10 through the wireless modem 226
during the valid lifecycle. In an exemplary embodiment, the widget
displays multimedia content associated with a coupon application
and is assigned a lifecycle associated with the coupon. The widget
is distributed to the mobile electronic device 20, which uses the
coupon information of the widget through NFC transactions under the
coupon application during the valid lifecycle of the coupon.
[0041] FIG. 3A shows a schematic block diagram illustrating the
software and the hardware of the mobile electronic device. In the
mobile electronic device of the present invention, the virtual
machine 21 manages the widget received by the mobile electronic
device 20 from the server 10, and authenticates the certificate of
the widget to allow the widget to communicate with the transaction
terminal 22. Each widget displays multimedia content associated
with a secure application; for example, it may be a widget
associated with AirFrance, VISA, or EasyCard applications. In the
embodiments of the present invention, the virtual machine 21 may be
installed on various mobile electronic devices 20 (such as a PDA,
an iPod, a mobile phone, a handheld device, or a multimedia player)
and provides a widget management platform such that the
authenticated widget accesses the secure element 225 of the
transaction terminal 22 to enable NFC transactions.
[0042] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a plurality of
applied widgets displayed on the graphical user interface of the
mobile electronic device in accordance with the present invention.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the widgets managed by
the virtual machine 21 may be displayed by the graphical user
interface 222 of the transaction terminal 22, and it is preferable
that the graphical user interface 222 is implemented by a touch
panel. The user may move the finger on the touch panel in the arrow
direction shown in FIG. 4 to select one of the widgets, such as the
widget associated with a VISA application stored in a secure
element, and then move the selected widget to the up front
position. When the user uses the finger to click on the up front
widget on the touch panel, it means that the user decides to use
that selected widget to enable NFC transactions.
[0043] Once the user selects a widget, the virtual machine 21 will
allow the widget to access the secure element 225 of the
transaction terminal 22 to activate the NFC modem 224. The selected
widget then waits for an event triggered by the NFC modem 224 so
that the widget information changes or that the widget receives
transaction information associated with the VISA secure
application, wherein the event is an interaction associated with
the NFC transaction, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0044] FIG. 3B shows a schematic block diagram illustrating the
mobile electronic device of the FIG. 3A communicating with the bank
server for receiving widgets and enabling a transaction
communication. In an embodiment of the present invention, a secure
element 225 of the mobile electronic device 20 is provided by a
bank, such as a secure micro-SD card which can be plugged into the
micro-SD card slot of the mobile electronic device 20. The memory
space of micro-SD card may be divided in a plurality of secure
domains such as SD1, SD2 as shown in FIG. 3B. One secure
application is located or stored in one secure domain; for example,
a VISA secure application is located in a secure domain which
enables VISA secure transactions using the secure element 225. The
secure application is, but not limited to, a transport application
or a credit/debit application or a coupon application or a secure
access application or a loyalty card application or an electronic
purse application or a ticketing application.
[0045] A bank server 10' issues a secure application downloaded and
stored into one secure domain of the secure element 225, and issues
widgets promoted by the bank. Each widget is assigned a certificate
and the certificate allows the widget to be authenticated by the
virtual machine 21 to access the secure element 225 such that the
widget received by the mobile electronic device 20 from the bank
server 10' can enable NFC transactions under a corresponding secure
application located in the secure domain of the secure element
225.
[0046] FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating the
various states of a widget in accordance with the present
invention. The widget used in the mobile integrated distribution
and transaction system of the present invention has a plurality of
states. The initial state of the widget is "not activated" when the
widget is created on the server. The state of the widget will
change to "deleted" if the widget is assigned a lifecycle but the
state of the widget remains as "not activated" after the valid
lifecycle is past. The mobile electronic device 20 requests the
server 10 for downloading a widget. The state of the widget is
"distributed" when the widget is being distributed to the virtual
machine 21 of the mobile electronic device 20 before the widget is
activated successfully. The state of the widget will change from
"distributed" to "activated" when the widget is authenticated by
the virtual machine 21 and then successfully accesses the
corresponding secure application stored in the secure elements
225.
[0047] The virtual machine 21 allows the widget to access the
secure element 225 of the transaction terminal 22 to activate the
NFC modem 224 when the user selects a widget on the graphical user
interface 222. The widget then reacts to an event triggered by the
NFC modem 224 such that the state of the widget changes from
"activated" to "in use" under a specific secure application
corresponding to the widget, and the event is an interaction
associated with NFC transactions. The state of the widget will
return from "in use" to "activated" after the widget completes
processing the information on NFC transactions.
[0048] In an embodiment of the present invention, the widget, such
as a widget associated with a coupon application, will change its
state from "in use" to "deleted" after the widget completes
processing the information on NFC transactions. In another
embodiment of the present invention, when an error occurs while the
widget is processing the information on NFC transactions, such as a
date conflict error or a secure application conflict error on NFC
transactions, then the state of the widget will change from "in
use" to "error" and the graphical user interface 222 will display
the error information. The state of the widget will return from
"error" to "activated" after the error is resolved.
[0049] In an embodiment of the present invention, the widget can
transfer messages between two virtual machines of separate mobile
electronic devices. The virtual machine 21 will allow the widget to
access the secure element 225 of the transaction terminal 22 to
activate the NFC modem 224 when the user chooses to share a widget
on the graphical user interface 222. The widget then reacts to an
event triggered by the NFC modem 224 such that the state of the
widget changes from "activated" to "on share" under a specific
secure application corresponding to the widget, and the event is an
interaction associated with NFC transactions. The state of the
widget will return from "on share" to "activated" after the widget
completes processing the information on NFC transactions.
[0050] In an embodiment of the present invention, the virtual
machine 21 will allow the widget to access the secure element 225
of the transaction terminal 22 to activate the NFC modem 224 when
the user chooses to update a widget on the graphical user interface
222. The widget then reacts to an event triggered by the NFC modem
224 such that the state of the widget changes from "activated" to
"updated" under a specific secure application corresponding to the
widget, and the event is an interaction associated with NFC
transactions. The state of the widget will return from "on share"
to "updated" after the widget updates the information on NFC
transactions.
[0051] FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a mobile distribution method
in accordance with the present invention. In an embodiment of the
invention, the mobile distribution system implements a mobile
distribution method, the method comprising the following steps:
creating a widget displaying multimedia content associated with a
secure application such as a transport application or a
credit/debit application or a coupon application or a secure access
application or a loyalty card application or an electronic purse
application or a ticketing application. The widget only executes on
a virtual machine 20 of the mobile electronic device 20 or
installed on the mobile electronic device 20.
[0052] In the mobile distribution method, the step of creating a
widget further comprises: initializing a state of the widget as
"not activated" when the widget is created; assigning a certificate
to the widget, wherein the widget is associated with a specific
secure application such as a transport application or a
credit/debit application, and the certificate allows the widget
authenticated by the virtual machine 21 to access the secure
element 225 embedded or plugged into the transaction terminal 22 to
enable NFC transactions to retrieve information under a specific
secure application; assigning a lifecycle to the widget, wherein
the widget downloaded to the mobile electronic device 20 may
process or retrieve information on NFC transactions during the
valid lifecycle and transmit information back to the server 10; and
assigning an identification number representing an account for
conducting NFC transactions under the control of a secure
application corresponding to the widget. In addition, the method
comprises the following step: recording the certificate, lifecycle
and the identification number assigned to the widget to gather
statistics for the mobile distribution system or to analyze the
widget.
[0053] In an embodiment of the present invention, the mobile
distribution system further comprises the following steps:
distributing the widget to the mobile electronic device 20 and
changing the state of the widget from "not activated" to
"distributed", wherein the mobile electronic device 20 has a
transaction terminal 22 comprising at least one secure element 225
for storing a secure application and a virtual machine 21; and
retrieving the widget information from the mobile electronic device
20 while the state of the widget is "activated", wherein the widget
information is gathered or updated by the widget while the mobile
electronic device 20 enables NFC transactions. In another
embodiment of the present invention, the mobile distribution method
further comprises the following step: analyzing the information
gathered or updated by the widget for transaction accounting
according to the recorded lifecycle and identification number.
[0054] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a mobile transaction method
in accordance with the present invention. In an embodiment of the
present invention, the mobile transaction method is implemented by
the mobile transaction system of the present invention or by the
mobile electronic device 20 as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the mobile
electronic device comprises the transaction terminal 22 as shown in
FIG. 2. The mobile transaction method is implemented by a software
installed on the mobile electronic device 20 comprising the NFC
modem and the graphical user interface 222. The mobile transaction
method comprises the following steps: receiving the widgets
distributed by the server 10, each widget having a certificate,
and/or a lifecycle and a identification number, wherein the
certificate allows the widget authenticated by the virtual machine
21 to access the secure element 225 embedded or plugged into the
transaction terminal 22 to enable NFC transactions, wherein the
identification number represents an account for conducting NFC
transactions under a secure application, and wherein the widget
information is changed while the NFC modem is enabling the NFC
transactions during the valid life cycle; and authenticating the
certificate of the widget to determine whether the widget can
access the secure element 225 of the transaction terminal 22,
wherein the widget is activated if the widget successfully accesses
the secure element 225 to retrieve information from a specific
secure application stored in the secure element, and the state of
the widget changes from "distributed" to "activated".
[0055] The mobile transaction method further comprises: displaying
the widgets on the graphical user interface 222, wherein the
widgets displays multimedia content associated with a secure
application; managing the widgets; selecting one of the widgets on
the graphical user interface 222 to use, share or update such that
the selected widget reacts to an event, which is an interaction
associated with NFC transactions, triggered by the NFC modem 224
and changing the state of the widget to "in used", "on share" or
"updated"; Using the selected widget to communicate with the secure
element; changing or transmitting the widget information while the
NFC modem 224 is enabling NFC transactions with the secure element
225; and changing the state of the widget back to "activated" after
the widget is used, shared or updates the received information on
NFC transactions.
[0056] In an embodiment of the present invention, the method
further comprises: the widget retrieving information associated
with the NFC transaction from the NFC modem, or a secure
application corresponding to the widget; and transferring the
widget or widget information on to the mobile electronic device 20
having an NFC modem through the NFC transaction, or through a
combination of the NFC transaction and a communication means.
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